The Big Picture with Kal Penn
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Intriguing, mature show explores statistics, social issues.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Big Picture with Kal Penn
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In THE BIG PICTURE WITH KAL PENN, host Kal Penn uses data and interviews to illustrate the details of issues such as disease, sex, and fantasy sports. In each case, Penn compiles statistics from every angle of the subject at hand and presents them to viewers using a variety of infographics and maps. From the far-flung financial effects of criminal activity to the ubiquitous nature of natural disasters, this fact-based series aims to put an entertaining spin the numbers regarding a whole host of topics.
Is It Any Good?
It sounds like a glorified statistics class, but The Big Picture with Kal Penn is a whole lot more fun than sitting in some stuffy college lecture. For starters, having Penn at the helm brings levity to even the most serious of topics and ensures that none of the numbers gets lost in translation to laypersons in the audience. Even complex matters such as pandemic disease are boiled down to facts and figures that the average viewer can understand without breaking a sweat.
But the show doesn't set out to only deliver the facts; it aims to relate each topic to viewers' lives in some way. Think that drug use doesn't affect you? You might be surprised to discover how its ripples can reach your doorstep. Is fantasy football simply a fun pastime? Perhaps, but it's also a booming business in which statistics reign supreme. Even if the subject isn't of particular interest to you, this intriguing show may just win you over with its unique visual presentation of otherwise dusty facts and figures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the purpose of this series. Is it educational? Entertaining? Do you think the information is reliable? How would you go about fact-checking some of its assertions (assuming you'd want to)?
Did this show change how you think about some of the issues it addresses? What surprising statements does it make about the economy? The climate and weather? Different societies' attitudes about sexuality?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 30, 2015
- Cast: Kal Penn
- Network: National Geographic Channel
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Science and Nature
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: October 23, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
History TV
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate